Peering 100 years into the future: The decision to start the “Second Founding” in Yuzawa, Akita.
Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture.
In the crisp mountain air, the sound of a ceremonial hoe cutting into the soil marked the beginning of our new journey. The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Orbray’s new headquarters and community facility carried a weight that was felt from the ground up: a commitment to putting down deep roots in this land and creating a new chapter of our story.
This groundbreaking was not merely to mark new construction or relocation. The ceremony defined a turning point for Orbray. It signified the moment we chose this land and declared our commitment to a “Second Founding” here. It was an act of resolve, inscribed into the earth, and an opportunity to re-establish our bonds with the community and all of our stakeholders.
Why now?
Rapid growth demands renewed foundations
We are in the midst of significant growth. In our fiscal year ended December 2025, we achieved net revenue of ¥30.6 billion, operating profit of ¥4.0 billion, and net income of ¥3.8 billion. Performance exceeded prior-year forecasts by a considerable margin, and we are now looking toward consolidated net revenue exceeding ¥45.0 billion by 2029.
In response, we have upwardly revised our medium-term management plan and are accelerating preparations to potentially bring forward our planned IPO from 2029 to September 2028.
However, revenue is only one measure of success. The real question is the value we are producing and will continue to create beyond the financials.
To accommodate our growth trajectory, we are accelerating our global expansion, developing next-generation technologies, improving employee compensation, and strengthening recruitment. However, to advance to the next stage, we need a foundation capable of sustaining these efforts over the long term, not as one-time initiatives.
That is why we made the decision to establish a new headquarters and new factory as a tangible, physical commitment.
The meaning behind the “Second Founding”
The construction of our new headquarters, along with the planned registration of our headquarters relocation to Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, by the end of 2026: These represent a rebirth of Orbray in many ways.
This new facility is not intended just to improve production efficiency. It is a base for creating new value and values as we move into the next phase of growth. Our hope is that what we do here will support the growth of the company and the growth of its people.
Our founding value, “one company, one family,” remains central to who we are. It means creating an environment where people look out for one another and feel secure enough to take on new challenges. Sixty new graduates will join us this spring. I consider it my mission to build a culture of pride, one where the next generation feels, “I want to build my career here,” and even, “I would want my children to work here.”
Inheriting tradition. Redefining the future.
Our history dates back to 1939. Since then, we have continuously refined our core precision jewel processing technologies of “cutting, grinding, and polishing,” and have expanded into optical communications, compact motors, medical devices, and diamond products, consistently operating at the leading edge of technology.
What began as a small workshop has grown into an organization with more than 2,300 employees across our network. Regardless of scale, our commitment to manufacturing excellence has never wavered.
The “Second Founding” does not mean discarding the past. Rather, it means redirecting the DNA of industrial jewel processing that we have inherited and cultivated, disseminating it into the broader world, and channeling it toward a broader impact and deeper social contribution. Moving our headquarters away from Tokyo, and instead choosing Akita, the region that has long supported our manufacturing, is an expression of our resolve: to reaffirm our identity and, from that foundation, take on the world.
With Yuzawa, building the next 100 years
This initiative has another critical dimension: co-creation with the local community.
On the grounds of the new headquarters, we will construct a community collaboration center. We do not intend to be merely an outside company that leases land and conducts business. We aim to become an integral part of this community, working hand in hand with local residents to contribute to sustainable development. That is our vision for mutual prosperity.
We envision a community that fosters learning for children, creates opportunities for civic engagement, and offers young people in the region a chance to see that globally connected work is possible without leaving home. There is no lasting corporate growth without regional development. We will walk alongside Yuzawa and build a model of shared prosperity here.
In closing
At the end of the groundbreaking ceremony, I invited all of our guests to join in a “kimusubi” ritual, to tie our spirits together. This act represents a vow to forge even deeper and stronger bonds, signifying our commitment to building the future together.
Orbray’s new story has only just begun. The buildings that will stand here will give physical form to our ideals and our resolve. What will truly give life to that vision are the employees who will work here, the community members who support us, and the new colleagues we have yet to meet.
What will the next 100 years bring to Yuzawa? To Orbray? To build the future we desire, we must move forward one step at a time, with conviction, together.
The future is ours to build. Let’s build it together.
